Ricky Telg, an interim associate dean at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, will become director of the PIE Center July 1, Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources Jack Payne said Friday. A news release Friday said the move will also return Telg “to his role as professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.

Telg will take over for Tracy Irani, who was promoted as chair of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Science in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Irani ran the PIE Center for five years, helping to build it into a full-sized department under the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences.

The PIE Center was created to provide scientific, non-biased research on the public’s understanding of challenging issues related to agriculture and natural resources. Payne envisioned it as an important part of IFAS and a public policy center for agricultural and natural resources. Payne and Irani secured permanent legislative funding to support the team of faculty researchers, professional staff and students, Irani said.

She also oversaw the development of the PIE Center’s statewide public opinion survey panels, “which assess public opinion and knowledge gaps with respect to agriculture and natural resources issues.”

Telg was part of the inaugural advisory board meeting for the PIE Center and offered his input on research, communications and training issues.

“I have been fortunate to play a small role in the PIE Center throughout the years,” Telg said in a news release. “I’m eager to continue the impressive journey Tracy Irani and so many others have created and foster the high-quality work of our faculty, staff and graduate students.”